Integrated driving head for progressive cavity pumps used in oil extraction

ABSTRACT

An “INTEGRATED DRIVING HEAD FOR PROGRESSIVE CAVITY PUMPS USED IN OIL EXTRACTION” composed of a gear box provided with a single pair of gears ( 6 ) for transmission between the motor ( 1 ) and the polished rod ( 7 ), so that the lubricating oil tank ( 14 ) of the brake ( 2 ) and of the pair of gears ( 6 ) is single, wherein the top bearings ( 17 ) are composed of solid grease, and the lock ( 11 ) is composed of screws ( 18 ).

This application refers to a novel integrated driving head for progressive cavity pumps used in oil extraction, of novel conception and with significant technological and operating features following state of the art engineering concepts and according to required standards and specifications, which fulfills the essential requirements of inventive features and novelty, and creates a series of actual and extraordinary technical, practical and economic advantages.

As specialists in this area are aware of, current driving heads for progressive cavity pumps are not integrated. Due to this fact there occur technical and operational issues and disadvantages, such as, e.g. brake failure, torn hoses, eventual torn pulleys, placing workers at risk and jeopardizing working safety.

Another common problem of current heads is due to speed control, which is performed by changing the pulleys, which requires more operators and does not allow for ongoing control, only at different steps.

In view of this, several studies were conducted to try to overcome these issues and drawbacks, and thus this equipment was devised, enabling the creation of a novel integrated pump for driving progressive cavity pumps used in oil extraction, which gave rise to the possibility, among other benefits, of obtaining ongoing speed variations of the polished rod, thus obtaining an integrated equipment with actual chances of being industrialized in a cost effective way, minimizing costs, assembly times and necessary labor, achieving an accurate assembly with enhanced results and a high safety pattern.

AIMS OF THIS PATENT APPLICATION

After the introduction of the frequency inverter with PLC (programmable logic controller) fitted into or separated from it for speed control, transmission belt pulleys were removed, thus creating the possibility of continuous speed variations of the polished rod, and enabling an increased flow. Removal of pulleys also prevents serious accidents on occasion of pulley breakage due to brake failure. Together with said frequency inverter a second set of brakes was created as a safety feature.

With the introduction of hydrodynamic brakes, the use of hoses and other fittings was dispensed, such as valves and connections which are frequently subject to leakages and brake failures, thus avoiding the use of wear parts such as the freewheel between the reducer and the hydraulic motor and the hydraulic motor itself.

This assembly allowed for the design of an integrated driving head for progressive cavity pumps used in oil extraction, with the ideal shape and features catering for all the assembly's operational needs: the new design of the structure as regards conventional heads allowed for all interphases with other functions to be maintained, even with functions which had never been used before.

The innovation in this patent application refers to an integrated driving head for progressive cavity pumps for extraction of oil comprised of a set of progressive cavity pumps for extraction of oil with an electric motor provided on the top portion—which is composed of a complete protective panel, with a frequency inverter—either regenerating or not, with a PLC (programmable logic controller) fitted or separate from it, which is capable of controlling the speed during regular operation, and together with the hydronamic brake is capable of braking the system, with either the hydronamic brake individually or the motor being capable of braking the system by means of screws in a fixing sleeve immediately followed by a flexible coupling for linking the motor axis with the input axis of the head, underneath which there is a gear box fitted with one or more pairs of gears for transmission; between the motor and the polished rod there is set of thrust bearings, with said gear box being provided or not with a lubricating assembly driven by one of the axis, while on top thereof there is also a lock for preventing the expulsion of the polished rod for avoiding risks for the operator. Such gear box is fixed on a hydrodynamic brake which together with the electric motor and frequency inverter with PLC (programmable logic controller), or not, added to or separated thereof, are responsible for absorbing all potential and synergistic energy due to the regular shutting off of the pump or the locking of the rotor thereof, which is fixed to a box support provided with a lock for maintenance, underneath which the seal assembly is placed. The lubricating oil tank of the brake and the pair of gears is single, with the top bearings composed of solid grease.

Thus, the object of this patent application enhances other technical, practical and operational advantages, providing the product with more versatility, an ideal possibility for catering for the operation and assembly needs, with a cost/benefit value and providing a compact and easy maintenance solution.

In order to clearly visualize the novel integrated driving head for progressive cavity pumps used in oil extraction, we have attached a drawing with references included so as to achieve a better understanding of the following detailed description:

FIG. 1 represents a top sectional view of the integrated driving head for progressive cavity pumps subject matter of this patent application.

According to this drawing and its details, the integrated driving head for oil extraction progressive cavity pumps is composed of a driving assembly for oil extraction progressive cavity pumps provided on its top portion with an electric motor (1) provided with a complete protective panel with frequency inverter with a PLC (programmable logic controller) fitted or separate thereof which is capable of controlling the speed during regular operation, and together with the hydronamic brake (2) is capable of slowing down the system, where either the hydronamic brake or the motor are capable of braking the system by means of screws in a fixing sleeve immediately followed by a flexible coupling (3) for linking the motor (1) axis (4) with the input head axle (5) underneath which there is a gear box fitted with only one pair of gears (6) for transmission between the motor (1) and the polished rod (7), as well as a set of thrust bearings (8); with said gear box (6) being provided or not with a lubricating set (not shown) driven by one of the axis, while on the top thereof there is also a protective assembly (10) on the end of the polished rod (7) for avoiding risks for the operator, which is internally provided with a lock (11) for preventing the expulsion of the polished rod, composed of screws (18). Such gear box (6) is fixed on a hydrodynamic brake (2) which together with the electric motor and frequency inverter with PLC or not, added to or separated thereof, are responsible for absorbing all potential and synergistic energy due to the regular shutting off of the pump or the lock thereof, fixed to a box support provided with a lock (12) for maintenance, underneath which the seal assembly (13) is placed, provided with two gaskets which are controlled by the regulator (16).

The lubricating oil tank (14) of the brake (2) and the pair of gears (6) is single, with the top bearings composed (17) of solid grease.

Several operational and construction variations may be made to the solution subject matter of this patent application; the construction shape of the bearings may be varied, as well as the location of the motor, the axis where the brake is set may be fixed on secondary axis.

We are not aware of any integrated driving head for progressive cavity pumps used in oil extraction which features separately the braking solution through a hydrodynamic brake or which comprises all the mentioned construction and operational features, and which either directly or indirectly was or is as effective as the subject matter of this application.

Therefore, this is an equipment of the utmost significance for its proposed purpose, which consists of a novel manner for obtaining an integrated driving head for progressive cavity pumps used in oil extraction, fully meeting in a practical and effective way its proposed functions and providing a series of advantages for its application, being provided with the unique and novel features as required for being protected as a patent of invention. 

1- An “INTEGRATED DRIVING HEAD FOR PROGRESSIVE CAVITY PUMPS USED IN OIL EXTRACTION” with the feature of being composed of a gear box provided with a single pair of gears (6) for transmission between the motor (1) and the polished rod (7), so that the lubricating oil tank (14) of the brake (2) and of the pair of gears (6) is single, wherein the top bearings (17) are composed of solid grease, and the lock (11) is composed of screws (18). 